[NEWS]Roblox targeted in the Philippines for resembling gambling

[alegotardo]

Roblox is under investigation in the Philippines for having games similar to gambling. Just so people know, this isn't the first time Roblox has come under investigation because of games that resemble gambling. I remember discussions about it in the past where it talks about people filing a complaint that there are games inside Roblox that are basically a casino, where players can gamble. The main concern people have about this is that the majority of Roblox players are underage, and they are being exposed to gambling and possibly getting exploited, too.

Okay, I know that some platforms may go a little overboard regarding what is reasonable or not to offer to our children and teenagers, but I think this is being generalized too much, you do not think?
Long ago before the fame of online casinos, we already had many platforms that allowed us to invest in something and receive random items based on luck, and this was never seen as illegal, so why is it different now?
I think there needs to be a very clear distinction between betting money to win more money and betting money to receive random gifts.
Otherwise, soon they will even ban the claw machines in shopping malls.

[Shinpako09]

A lot of kids in our neighborhood, especially in grade school, play Roblox. I never thought a game like Roblox would come this far and be used for exploitation. I used to think the issues were more about child safety, like harassment, rather than anything related to gambling? Like, they might be recruiting kids to post or do things related to violence. Or maybe I just haven’t seen that article yet, resembling gambling. But in my opinion, while Roblox needs to be stricter, at the end of the day, it’s still up to the parents to monitor their kids’ actions. It’s their responsibility.

[Darker45]

There's just too many complaints, suspicions, accusations, and whatnot against Roblox. Why can't the regulators just ban it once and for all?

But I guess the biggest problem with Roblox isn't the feature that resembles gambling. It's probably that there are old people in the game who are sexual predators to young children.

The problem with most parents is that they just allow their children to do whatever they want with their online gadgets so that they don't disturb them.

[viljy]

Well, it's been going on for a long time. By the way, Roblox is blocked in Russia (although they play it anyway). It is very difficult to control gambling on such a platform in terms of access. The Philippines can simply impose a large fine, then maybe Roblox will take some measures to limit gambling in its "universe". In general, this problem has already spread quite widely. The services openly cultivate gambling and at the same time try to mimic something harmless or "other": Roblox, Steam (loot boxes), Polymarket (the bet is called futures contract, and the betting office is called the market). Of all of them, Roblox is the most brazen because it involves minors in gambling, which is prohibited in almost all countries.

[Oasisman]

There's just too many complaints, suspicions, accusations, and whatnot against Roblox. Why can't the regulators just ban it once and for all?

But I guess the biggest problem with Roblox isn't the feature that resembles gambling. It's probably that there are old people in the game who are sexual predators to young children.

The problem with most parents is that they just allow their children to do whatever they want with their online gadgets so that they don't disturb them.

Or maybe it's about damn time for Roblox to moderate the game strictly and thoroughly. Everything that are suspicious and inappropriate in-game should be moderated immediately.
There have been reports that illegal trades (drugs), groups of extremists, pedos, violent contents, as well as gambling, inside the game. Is Roblox tolerant to these activities? It's just impossible that they're being unaware of it, and did not take actions to prevent it.

[TopTort777]

Roblox needed moderation long time ago. As a platform with games for kids, there are too much adult content. Starting from +18 chats, ending with gambling alike games. They even have game which goal is to beg for Roblox currency. As Roblox allows p2p item trading, and you can create your own item, set your own price, its a perfect place for money laundering. I have never seen games there that imitate gambling completely, but lootboxes are probably in every third game. Roblox must also think about way user makes a purchase, because now its only YES/NO button. No extra protection. One tap and funds are gone forever.

[acroman08]

There's just too many complaints, suspicions, accusations, and whatnot against Roblox. Why can't the regulators just ban it once and for all?

But I guess the biggest problem with Roblox isn't the feature that resembles gambling. It's probably that there are old people in the game who are sexual predators to young children.

The problem with most parents is that they just allow their children to do whatever they want with their online gadgets so that they don't disturb them.

Yeah, after reading more articles about it, the Philippine government's main issue with Roblox isn't that there are games that resemble gambling, but the presence of pedophiles and drug traffickers targeting children and grooming them, and from the looks of it, this has been a long issue in Roblox, and they have faced lawsuits over it. What's more ridiculous is that I saw an article where a guy is hunting alleged pedophiles in Roblox, but Roblox banned him.

[lombok]

There's just too many complaints, suspicions, accusations, and whatnot against Roblox. Why can't the regulators just ban it once and for all?

But I guess the biggest problem with Roblox isn't the feature that resembles gambling. It's probably that there are old people in the game who are sexual predators to young children.

The problem with most parents is that they just allow their children to do whatever they want with their online gadgets so that they don't disturb them.

Yeah, after reading more articles about it, the Philippine government's main issue with Roblox isn't that there are games that resemble gambling, but the presence of pedophiles and drug traffickers targeting children and grooming them, and from the looks of it, this has been a long issue in Roblox, and they have faced lawsuits over it. What's more ridiculous is that I saw an article where a guy is hunting alleged pedophiles in Roblox, but Roblox banned him.

The fact that many legal cases have arisen due to the availability of criminal components in entertainment applications proves that innovation that lacks the aspect of security is an awful catastrophe. In my opinion, the Philippine government has a good case to act in order to secure the future of our youth. The blockage of criminal hunters is the irony, which proves that it is irrational to impose internal rules in the company. More transparency needs to be sought as any threats will be responded to immediately.